Marley Eternit Limited
Lichfield Road, Branston, Burton-on Trent. DE14 3HD
Tel: 01283 722588 Fax: 01283 722219
Product Names:
Operal
Hydropanel
Eterboard
Cedral Weatherboard
Bluclad
N.T. External Sills
Eter-Color
Description:
High Performance Cladding:
Operal
Eter-Color
Cedral Weatherboard
General Purpose Building Boards:
Eterboard
Bluclad
Hydropanel
N.T External Sills
Large rigid, rectangular smooth or textured boards in a wide range of colours.
Large rigid, rectangular sheet in natural colour.
Manufactured from Portland Cement sand and water, reinforced with natural and synthetic fibres, and fillers, either fully or semi-compressed. If through colored they will contain pigments. If surface coated, the coating will generally be a water based acrylic resin with pigments.
Primary entry route(s)
Medical Conditions
Inhalation of dust
Respiratory conditions
(Which may be aggravated)
Target Organs Lungs
Due to the presence of crystalline silica in the raw material used in the manufacture of these products, machining may lead to the release of quartz dust. Undisturbed, this product does not pose a health hazard with all the ingredients bonded in the cement matrix.
Inhalation of quartz from occupational sources can cause silicosis and lung cancer.
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs 1997. “Crystalline silica inhaled in the form of quartz and cristobalite from occupational sources is carcinogenic to humans” (Group 1)
Inhalation
Skin contact
Ingestion
Eyes
Remove to fresh air
Wash thoroughly with water
Give plenty to drink
Flush copiously for at least 15 minutes. If irritation or discomfort persists – seek medical advice.
Fibre cement products are noncombustible or class “0” and compatible with all standard fire-fighting measures.
Procedure for Spill/Leak Collect dust with vacuum cleaner or soak with water and sweep up.

Off-loading of heavy loads should be carried out with care, to avoid unnecessary strain on the handlers and accidental damage to the product.
Mechanical handling equipment should always be used if available.
8.1 Safety recommendations when handling or machining these products
The use of angle grinders is not recommended
High Performance Cladding These should be precut and drilled by specialist distributors, a list of whom can be supplied on request.
General Purpose Building Boards and Extruded Sills These can be cut with any jigsaw or circular saw. Products must be fully supported when cutting. The use of either a diamond or a tungsten carbide tipped blade is recommended for maximum performance. Please contact the Techical Advisory Service for further information.
After cutting or drilling remove all dust from coloured materials to avoid subsequent staining.
8.2 Occupational exposure limits EH40/2005
Workplace exposure limits

Dust
– 8hf T.W.A.
10mg / m3 total inhalable dust
4mg / m3 total respirable dust

Crystalline Silica
– 8hr T.W.A.
0.3 mg /m3 respirable silica
T.W.A. = Time Weighted Average
8.3 Personal Protective Equipment
Goggles Persons employed in machine cutting, drilling & fixing should wear protective goggles (CE approved to BS 2092).
Gloves Should be worn for protection against cuts and abrasions.
Respirator Approved respiratory protective equipment should be made available to persons working in concentrations above or around the WEL
Ventilation Dust should be controlled by local exhaust ventilation at source.
Other Normal protective working overalls.
High Performance
Cladding Panels
Average Bending Strength
N/mm2
AverageDensity
Kg/m3
Operal 17 1230
Cedral Weatherboard 11 1300
Eter-Color 22 1580
General Purpose
Building Boards
Eterboard
Bluclad
Hydropanel
Odour
Flammability
17
18
11
None
Fire
1230
1180
1180
– Fibre cement products are class”0” to the building regulations
They are chemically inert and resistant to the majority of fumes, weak acids and alkalis. In the case of aggressive environme nts, the advice of Eternit’s techical advisory service should be sought.

Inhalation Acute over
–exposure to dust may cause irritatioin of the respiratory tract.
Skin Contact Prolonged or repeated contact may cause mild irritation.
Skin Absorbtion No known hazards.
Ingestion Mild discomfort
Eyes Mild transient irritation. No specific hazard.
11.1 Chronic Effects
Silicosis, a form of fibrosis of the lungs, may arize from the inhalation of silica.
Fibre cement products will not degrade in the ground.
The waste product is a non hazardous industrial waste product, and is not regarded as hazardous waste under the Hazardous Waste (England &
Wales) Regulations 2005.
Treat any collective dust in a way that prevents further exposure.
Other than good haulage practice in securing the consignment, no special precautions need to be taken.

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2004

Construction (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996

Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992

HSE Guidance Note EH40/2005 (Occupational Exposure Limits)

HSE Guidance Note EH44 (Dust – General Principles of Protection)

HSE Guidance Note EH75/5 (Respirable Crystalline Silica)

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994
The health and safety information contained herein is believed to be accurate and correct at the date of issue. No liability can be accepted for any loss, injury or damage from its use. It is intended as a guide for the safe handling, storage and use of the product under normal conditions.

Pure Cladding

Hydropanel: Planning and Application, User Manual

Operal and Cedral

Solutions for the Building Regulations
July 2014